The Neal Peirce Foundation is offering travel grants of up to $1,500 each in 2024 to support journalists in uncovering and reporting on "undertold stories about urban solutions." The core mission of this grant program is to foster journalism that highlights how cities and their surrounding regions can be made more effective and equitable for all residents. This directly aligns with the Foundation's broader goal of promoting urban solutions and improving community well-being through informed public discourse.
The target beneficiaries of this grant are reporters, writers, editors, and photographers working across various media, including print, online, radio, television, podcasts, and multimedia. Eligibility requires applicants to have had stories published or aired within the past three years. The Foundation particularly encourages applications from journalists early in their careers or from backgrounds that are underrepresented in the news media, aiming to diversify voices and perspectives in urban reporting. The impact goal is to facilitate in-depth reporting on innovative urban solutions, thereby contributing to a more informed public and potentially influencing policy and community development.
The program prioritizes stories that explore urban solutions within the U.S., with travel being local or long distance by any reasonable transport means. There's a strong focus on timely execution, as travel is expected to occur within three months of award receipt, and the story submitted to a pitched outlet within three months of travel ending. The Foundation's strategic priority is to generate high-quality journalistic content that illuminates successful urban strategies, operating under the theory of change that by supporting such reporting, they can increase public awareness and drive positive change in urban environments.
Expected outcomes include the production of compelling and well-researched stories on urban solutions, increased visibility for innovative community efforts, and enhanced public understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing cities. Measurable results will include the number of stories produced, their publication or airing in media outlets, and the promotion of these stories by grant recipients through their social media accounts. Grant recipients are also expected to acknowledge the Peirce Foundation's support and may be asked to participate in future efforts to publicize the program's impact, further amplifying the reach and influence of the supported journalism.
